TechHub

TechHub, a new co-working space and networking centre in London for technology entrepreneurs, had an action-packed first week that included Speed Dating for Entrepreneurs, a "Pitch Battle" competition for new business plans and a discussion of Financial Times mobile initiatives with technology bloggers.

"Starting up on your own is not easy. It is lonely at the beginning," said Brent Hoberman, co-founder of lastminute.com and a leading light in London’s Internet community, addressing the teeming launch party for TechHub. “It is fantastic to see places like this opening in London and I hope that we see many successful businesses come out of TechHub."

Pearson was the first founding sponsor of TechHub, followed by Google. London’s TechHub aims to be the first location in a network of TechHub communities spread around the world.

"Co-working is based on a community spirit that helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality," says Juan Lopez-Valcarcel, Pearson’s director of digital product and consumer technology. “We are thrilled to support the digital community in London and you will see many of our product teams working here at TechHub engaging with entrepreneurs and developers”.

The opening week kicked off on July 12 with a Tech Founder "Speed Dating" event on Monday, organised by Seedcamp and TechHub, as a forum designed to match entrepreneurs with technology talent. Just as in the “romantic” version of speed dating, potential partners moved quickly from chair to chair along a long table trying to find the right chemistry for relationships — to start a business together.

On July 14, the “TechCrunch Summer Pitch Battle” attracted more than 40 entrepreneurs seeking recognition for their business ideas. Entrants had one minute to pitch their idea in front of a packed crowd of fellow entrepreneurs, venture capital firms and corporate development teams.

Ten finalists were then chosen to present their ideas for three minutes. The first place winner was Calaboard, for an augmented reality video conferencing system in which one party might draw diagrams in three-dimensional space which then appear on a computer screen viewed by the other party. Second place went to Duedil for a platform for professional recommendations, and third place went to Geomium for a mobile location system that advises users of events going on around them.

On July 15, the Financial Times mobile team shared ideas with tech  bloggers about the FT's current offerings and future plans for mobile devices including Apple’s iPhone and iPad. It was the first briefing at TechHub organised by one of Pearson’s businesses.

There have been 370,000 downloads of the FT’s app for the iPhone since the app was launched last year, and “we see very active users, with lengthy uses per visit,” said Steve Pinches, lead product development manager at FT.com. The FT’s app for the iPad, the only news app to win an Apple Design Award, has seen an average use of 23.3 minutes per visitor, and both the FT’s iPhone app and the new iPad app have been very effective in driving subscriptions to FT.com, said Mr. Pinches.

For more information about Pearson’s involvement in TechHub, contact Juan Lopez-Valcarcel at juan.lopezvalcarcel@pearson.com

Looking for a central London meeting room? TechHub has well-priced rooms available with half-price bookings for members.

All prices are exclusive of VAT.

Includes: tea & coffee, water, wifi, projector, screen
 

Thanks to everyone who came to our launch party for Founder Members, Guests and VIPs. Brent Hoberman, Co-Founder of Lastminute.com and now MyDeco.com and PROFounders Capital said a few words of support at the outset, followed by TechHub Co-Founder Mike Butcher and the Co-Founder/CEO of TechHub, Elizabeth Varley. Unfortunately our AirCon failed on the hottest day of the year in London so far, but a good time was had by all. We're doing introduction tours in the mornings this week, so pop on by.

TechHub Launch Speeches from Dave Stone on Vimeo.

Woo hoo! We're incredibly excited to announce that Google has come on board to sponsor TechHub London, alongside the lovely people at Pearson.

Coverage:
Guardian
TheNextWeb
TechCrunch Europe
ArabCrunch

Here's the press release that went out today:

 Google sponsors TechHub, a new London centre for technology companies and start-ups

Very exciting news today, we can reveal the address and launch date of the first  TechHub space, TechHub London! Woo hoo!

We'll be opening the doors on Monday 12th July 2010 at:

TechHub
Ground Floor
76-80 City Rd
London
EC1Y 2BJ

We're almost on top of Old St tube (exit 5) and close to other transport, lots of great bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels - some of which we've already arranged excellent TechHub Member discounts with (announcing soon).

We'll be running some more open days during July, and applications are open for TechHub Annual Membership and TechHub Deskspace Membership for the London space.

Our launch party will be taking place on the evening of Friday 9th July, so pop it in your diary now and keep an eye out for details of the party and to RSVP. It looks like the guest list will be packed, so TechHub Members will of course get the first invitations before we open them up to all those on our email list. Join our mailing list now for news and updates, including details of memberships, desk spaces, how to apply and more.

See you all @TechHub very soon!

It looks like marketing guru Seth Godin is having the same thoughts as we are at TechHub about the future of working.

The traditional office is often not needed. Sure we sometimes need a place to meet, to collaborate, but does this need to be the same place, every day? Seth thinks not, and we agree.

Those of us who need only a laptop and an internet connection don't really need to be around our bosses or people from the same company all the time, in fact, some people never see their co-workers in person and get along just fine.

In fact, having like-minded people around you who are working on other things, in different companies can be thought-provoking and incredibly useful in terms of new perspectives and ideas.

Seth says:

"2. If you do work with a keyboard and a mouse, the items you need to work on are on your laptop, not in the office.
...
5. You can get energy from people other than those in the same company.
...
7. So go someplace. But it doesn't have to be to your office."

So where does TechHub come in? Crucially he says: 

"The gain in speed, productivity and happiness is massive. What's missing is #7... someplace to go. Once someone figures that part out, the office is dead."

I think we've figured it out...

We're busy, busy bees getting TechHub ready for launch, but we're not just focusing on the space itself, oh no! We're starting to book in some fantastic events for TechHubbers and guests and what we really want to know is: what do you really want to know?

Are there particular formats you like or dislike? Amazing entrepreneurs or other speakers from far flung places that you'd like to hear from? Questions burning in your brain that you'd love to have answered? Or perhaps there are some topics you just love to bang on about with great, like-minded people?

Tell us now! <- We want to hear from you, and please ask your other techie friends to tell us too. 

No? I for one am very excited about this big fat data pipe going in to TechHub London: fibre line, uncontended, 100 mbs down and 100 mbs up. Yeah baby!

Now to see how quickly BT and our new friends at Exponential-E can get it installed (Andrew, you've been a star).  C'mon guys, make it happen now!

If you're planning to upgrade your connectivity and want to hear more about our experience or would like an intro, drop Elizabeth a line at elizabeth[at]techhub.com

We have a couple of preview dates coming up to give you the chance to check out the TechHub layout, and hear more about our plans for the space. It is still work in progress though, so do be aware our lovely builder Steve and his colleagues may be beavering away while we're there.

We usually pop next door afterwards for a drink and a bit of impromptu chat and networking, but feel free to take off straight away if you just want to pop by for a quick peek. 

We'll only be taking through a limited number of people at once, so please do register if you'd like to attend.

NEW DATE
Fri 18th June, 10am: http://techhubpreview18-07.eventbrite.com

Fri 11th June: http://techhubpreview.eventbrite.com

Tue 15th June: http://techhubpreview2.eventbrite.com

Wed 16th June:  http://techhubpreview3.eventbrite.com 

Looking forward to seeing you @TechHub!

Got a great business idea? Developing a fantastic new product? Have awesome business skills but no project to apply them to? Really need a partner in crime to help you take over the world?

Finding the right person to co-found your business can be challenging - you know they're out there, but where? Well they might just be at TechHub on July 12th!

The fabulous people at Seedcamp, together with TechHub, are bringing you our first Tech Founder Speed Dating session. We'll select a great group of talented people and create the right environment for you to meet all of them in one go in the hope you'll find your perfect business partner.

So register your interest in taking part now and we'll do the rest.

We'll be trying to ensure a good mix of people at the same level (already started, starting soon etc) and we only have limited places, so we'll get back to you to confirm you for the event on the 12th. Rest assured that if there's a huge level of interest, we'll run more sessions in the coming months.

You have a fabulous business inside you, so get dating!